Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria

Patriarchate of the Catholic Church in Egypt

Not to be confused with Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria

Catholic

Sidrak in 2014.

Coat of arms

Incumbent:
Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak
elected 15 January, 2013
Location
Headquarters| Cairo, Egypt
Information
First holder| Athanasios
Denomination| Eastern Catholic
Established| 1824
Cathedral| Our Lady of Egypt
Website
www.cnewa.org

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Particular churches sui iuris
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Latin cross and Byzantine Patriarchal cross

Particular churches are grouped by liturgical rite
Alexandrian Rite

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The Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria is the Patriarchal and only Metropolitan see of the head of the Eastern sui iuris Coptic Catholic Church, a particular Church in the Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See, which follows the Alexandrian Rite in its own Coptic language. He is thus the superior of all Coptic dioceses, mostly in and around Egypt (where all its sees are), the word Copt(ic) being a corruption of the Greek word for Egypt(ian).

It has two cathedral archiepiscopal sees, both in Egypt: one dedicated to Our Lady of Egypt, in the national capital Cairo, the other dedicated to the Resurrection, in Ancient Alexandria.

## History

[edit]

It had three false starts, each failing to prove enduring.

* In 1741 a precursor Catholic Apostolic vicariate was established for Alexandria for Coptic Christians wanting to unite with the Holy See.
* On 15 August 1824 a Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin) was established on Egyptian territory, split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Syria, Egypt, Arabia and Cyprus.
* On 26 November 1895 it was restored as Patriarchal See of Alexandria / Alexandrin(us) Coptorum (Latin), again on Egyptian territory, split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Egypt.

In 1947 it was restored for good. It lost territories in Egypt repeatedly to establish suffragan sees of Alexandria as Metropolitan:

* on 17 December 1982 the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Ismayliah
* on 21 March 2003 the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Guizeh.

It enjoyed Papal visits from Pope John Paul II in February 2000 and from Pope Francis in April 2017.

## Rank

[edit]

The patriarchal see as such ranks third among all Catholic (arch)bishoprics of the world (only after the Apostolic See of Rome and the Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople), by the virtue of Canon Law (CCEO 58, 59.2).

## Proper diocese

[edit]

His proper (arch)eparchy is the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Alexandria, which has no other Ordinary than the Patriarch. However, he may appoint an Auxiliary bishop for the eparchy, distinct from Auxiliaries for the Patriarchate, as was the case with:

* Youhanna Kabès (7 June 1958 – died 28 June 1985), Titular Bishop of Cleopatris (7 June 1958 – 28 June 1985).

As of 2014, it served 35,865 Eastern Catholics in 31 parishes with 73 priests (41 diocesan, 32 religious), 209 lay religious (65 brothers, 144 sisters) and 5 seminarians.

It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope Francis in April 2017.

## Bishops

[edit]

### Coptic Catholic Patriarchs of Alexandria and precursor Apostolic Vicars

[edit]

Coptic Catholic Apostolic Vicars

* Athanasios (1741–1744?)
* Giusto Marsghi (1744?–1748)
* Jakub Římař OFM (1748–1751) (Jacques de Kremsier)
* Paolo d'Angnone (1751–1757)
* Giuseppe de Sassello (1757–1761)
* Roche Abou Kodsi Sabak de Ghirgha (1761–1778); (1781); (1783–1785)
* Gervais d'Ormeal (1778–1781)
* Jean Farargi (1781–1783)
* Bishai Nosser (1785–1787)
* Michelangelo Pacelli de Tricario (1787–1788)
* Mathieu Righet (1788–1822)
* Maximos Jouwed (1822–1831) (also carried the title of Patriarch starting 1824)
* Théodore Abu Karim (1832–1855)
* Athanasios Kyriakos Khouzam (1855–1864)
* Agapios Bishai (1866–1876)
* Antoun di Marco (1876–1887) (visiting apostolic vicar)
* Antoun Nabad (1887–1889) (provicar)
* Simon Barraia (1889–1892) (provicar)
* Antoun Kabes (1892–1895) (provicar)
* Kyrillos Makarios (1895–1899) (apostolic administrator and Patriarchal vicar, Patriarch starting 1899)

Coptic Catholic Patriarchs of Alexandria

Patriarchate established in 1824 (by Pope Leo XII)

* Maximos Jouwed, also known as Maximos Givaid (15 August 1824 – died 30 August 1831), Titular Bishop of Uthina (9 March 1824 – 15 August 1824)
* Vacant (1831–1899)
* Apostolic Administrator Théodore Abou-Karim (22 June 1832 – died 28 September 1855), Titular Bishop of Alia (22 June 1832 – 28 September 1855), no other prelature
* Apostolic Administrator Athanase Khouzan (2 October 1855 – died 17 February 1864), Titular Bishop of Maronia (2 October 1855 – 17 February 1864), no other prelature
* Apostolic Administrator Abraham Agabio Bsciai (27 February 1866 – 1878), Titular Bishop of Cariopolis (27 February 1866 – 20 February 1887), no other prelature
* Apostolic Administrator Cyrillus Macaire = Kyrillos Makarios (18 March 1895 – 19 June 1899 see below), Titular Bishop of Cæsarea Paneas (15 March 1895 – 19 June 1899)
* Kyrillos Makarios = Cyrillus Macaire (1899–1908) (resigned)
* Vacant (1908–1947)
* Apostolic Administrator (Joseph-)Maxime Sedfaoui (1908 – 13 January 1925)
* Apostolic Administrator Marc Khouzam = Markos Khouzam (30 December 1927 – 10 August 1947 see below)
* Markos II Khouzam (see above 10 August 1947 – died 2 February 1958)
* Stéphanos I Sidarouss, Lazarists (C.M.) (10 May 1958 - retired 24 May 1986) (Cardinal in 1965), died 1987
* Patriarchal Vicar: Athanasios Abadir (18 May 1976 – 17 December 1982), Titular Bishop of Appia (18 May 1976 – 17 December 1982); next Eparch (Bishop) of Ismayliah of the Copts (Egypt) (17 December 1982 – died 25 May 1992)
* Stéphanos II Ghattas (23 June 1986 – retired 30 March 2006) (Cardinal in 2001), died 2009
* Auxiliary Bishop: Youhanna Golta (27 July 1986 – 1997), Titular Bishop of Andropolis (27 July 1986 – present); next Bishop of Curia of the Copts (1997–2020)
* Auxiliary Bishop: Andraos Salama (1 November 1988 – 1997), Titular Bishop of Barca (1 November 1988 – 21 March 2003); next Eparch (Bishop) of Guizeh of the Copts (Egypt) (21 March 2003 – died 6 December 2005)
* Antonios I Naguib (7 April 2006 – retired 15 January 2013) (Cardinal in 2010), died 2022
* Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak (18 January 2013 – present)

### Curial bishops

[edit]

* Youhanna Golta (1997-2020)
* Antonios Aziz Mina (2002-2006), confirmed Bishop of Guizeh (Coptic)
* Kamal Fahim Awad (Boutros) Hanna (2006-2013), confirmed Bishop of Minya {Ermopoli Maggiore; Minieh} (Coptic)
* Hani Nassif Wasef Bakhoum Kiroulos (2019-)

## See also

[edit]

* List of Catholic dioceses in Egypt
* List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria
* Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
* Patriarchs
* Patriarch of Alexandria
* Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
* Eastern Catholic Churches
* Patriarchs of the east
* Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East

## Sources and external links

[edit]

* List of all Coptic Patriarchs of Alexandria by GCatholic.org
* GCatholic - Proper Eparchy of Alexandria

* v
* t
* e

Patriarchs of Alexandria

Patriarchs prior to the
Chalcedonian schism
(43–451)|

* Mark I the Evangelist (founder)
* Anianus
* Avilius
* Kedronos
* Primus
* Justus
* Eumenius
* Markianos*
* Celadion
* Agrippinus
* Julian
* Demetrius I
* Heraclas
* Dionysius
* Maximus
* Theonas
* Peter I
* Achillas
* Alexander I
* Athanasius I
* Peter II
* Timothy I
* Theophilus I
* Cyril I
* Dioscorus I

Coptic Orthodox
Popes and Patriarchs
(451–present)|

* Timothy II
* Peter III
* Athanasius II
* John I
* John II
* Dioscorus II
* Timothy III
* Theodosius I
* Peter IV
* Damian
* Anastasius
* Andronicus
* Benjamin I
* Agathon
* John III
* Isaac
* Simeon I
* Alexander II
* Cosmas I
* Theodore I
* Michael I
* Mina I
* John IV
* Mark II
* James
* Simeon II
* Joseph I
* Michael II
* Cosmas II
* Shenouda I
* Michael III
* Gabriel I
* Cosmas III
* Macarius I
* Theophilus II
* Mina II
* Abraham
* Philotheos
* Zacharias
* Shenouda II
* Christodoulos
* Cyril II
* Michael IV
* Macarius II
* Gabriel II
* Michael V
* John V
* Mark III
* John VI
* Cyril III
* Athanasius III
* John VII
* Gabriel III
* John VII
* Theodosius III
* John VIII
* John IX
* Benjamin II
* Peter V
* Mark IV
* John X
* Gabriel IV
* Matthew I
* Gabriel V
* John XI
* Matthew II
* Gabriel VI
* Michael VI
* John XII
* John XIII
* Gabriel VII
* John XIV
* Gabriel VIII
* Mark V
* John XV
* Matthew III
* Mark VI
* Matthew IV
* John XVI
* Peter VI
* John XVII
* Mark VII
* John XVIII
* Mark VIII
* Peter VII
* Cyril IV
* Demetrius II
* Cyril V
* John XIX
* Macarius III
* Joseph II
* Cyril VI
* Shenouda III
* Tawadros II (current)

Greek Orthodox
Popes and Patriarchs
(451–present)|

* Proterius
* Timothy II
* Timothy III
* John I
* Peter III
* Athanasius II
* John II
* John III
* Dioscorus II
* Timothy IV
* Theodosius I
* Gaianus
* Paul
* Zoilus
* Apollinarius
* John IV
* Eulogius
* Theodore I
* John V
* George I
* Cyrus
* Peter IV
* Peter V
* Peter VI
* Cosmas I
* Politianus
* Eustatius
* Christopher I
* Sophronius I
* Michael I
* Michael II
* Christodoulos
* Eutychius
* Sophronius II
* Isaac
* Job
* Elias I
* Arsenius
* Theophilus II
* George II
* Leontius
* Alexander II
* John VI
* Cyril II
* Sabbas
* Sophronius III
* Elias II
* Eleutherius
* Mark III*
* Nicholas I
* Gregory I
* Nicholas II
* Athanasius III
* Gregory II
* Gregory III
* Niphon
* Mark IV
* Nicholas III
* Gregory IV
* Nicholas IV
* Athanasius IV
* Mark V
* Philotheus
* Mark VI
* Gregory V
* Joachim I
* Silvester
* Meletius I Pegas
* Cyril III
* Gerasimus I
* Metrophanes
* Nicephorus
* Joannicius
* Paisius
* Parthenius I
* Gerasimus II
* Samuel
* Cosmas II
* Cosmas III
* Matthew
* Cyprian
* Gerasimus III
* Parthenius II
* Theophilus III
* Hierotheus I
* Artemius
* Hierotheus II
* Callinicus
* Jacob
* Nicanor
* Nilus
* Sophronius IV
* Photius
* Meletius II
* Nicholas V
* Christopher II
* Nicholas VI
* Parthenius III
* Peter VII
* Theodore II (current)

Latin Catholic
(1276–1954)|

* Atanasio (Athanasius)
* Egidio da Ferrara (Giles)
* ?Humbert II, Dauphin of Vienne
* Juan (John)
* Guillaume de Chanac
* Arnaud Bernard du Pouget (Arnaldo Bernardi)
* uncanonical Jean de Cardaillac
* Pietro Amely di Brunac
* ? Johannes Walteri von Sinten
* uncanonical Simon of Cramaud
* Pietro Amely di Brunac
* Leonardo Dolfin
* Ugo Roberti
* Pietro Amaury di Lordat
* Lancelotus de Navarra
* Giovanni Contarini
* Pietro
* Vitalis di Mauléon
* Giovanni Vitelleschi
* Marco Condulmer
* Jean d'Harcourt
* Arnaldo Rogerii de Palas
* Pedro de Urrea
* Pedro González de Mendoza
* Diego Hurtado de Mendoza
* Alonso de Fonseca y Acevedo
* Bernardino Carafa
* Cesare Riario
* Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora
* Ottaviano Maria Sforza
* Julius Gonzaga
* Cristoforo Guidalotti Ciocchi del Monte
* Jacques Cortès
* Tommaso
* Alessandro Riario
* Enrico Caetani
* Giovanni Battista Albani
* Camillo Caetani
* Séraphin Olivier-Razali
* Alessandro di Sangro
* Honoratus Caetani
* Federico Borromeo
* Allesandro Crescenzi
* Aloysius Bevilacqua
* Petrus Draghi Bartoli
* Gregorio Giuseppe Gaetani de Aragonia
* Carlo Ambrosio Mezzabarba
* Filippo Carlo Spada
* Girolamo Crispi
* Giuseppe Antonio Davanzati
* Lodovico Agnello Anastasi
* Francisco Mattei
* Augustus Foscolo
* Paolo Angelo Ballerini
* Domenico Marinangeli
* Paolo de Huyn
* Luca Ermenegildo Pasetto

Melkite Catholic
(1724–present)|

* Cyril VI Tanas
* Athanasius IV Jawhar
* Maximos II Hakim
* Theodosius V Dahan
* Athanasius IV Jawhar
* Cyril VII Siaj
* Agapius II Matar
* Ignatius IV Sarrouf
* Athanasius V Matar
* Macarius IV Tawil
* Ignatius V Qattan
* Maximos III Mazloum
* Clement Bahouth
* Gregory II Youssef-Sayur
* Peter IV Geraigiry
* Cyril VIII Geha
* Demetrius I Qadi
* Cyril IX Moghabghab
* Maximos IV Sayegh
* Maximos V Hakim
* Gregory III Laham
* Youssef I Absi

Coptic Catholic
(1824–present)|

* Maximos Jouwed
* Kyrillos Makarios
* Stéphanos I Sidarouss
* Stéphanos II Ghattas
* Antonios I Naguib
* Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak

* *Markianos is considered Mark II on the Greek side of the subsequent schism, hence this numbering of Mark III.
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Patriarchates in Christianity

Traditional ecclesiastical jurisdictions of primates in Christianity, sorted according to earliest apostolic legacy and branched where multiple denominational claimants:
bold blue = Catholic Church, light blue = Eastern Orthodox Church, bold/light green = Oriental Orthodoxy, italic blue = Nestorianism

Early
Christianity
(Antiquity)
(30–325/476)|

| Pentarchy
(five
apostolic
sees)|

| Patriarch of Rome (1st cent.)|

* Holy See (since 1st cent.)

|

Patriarch of Constantinople
(451)|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 330)
* Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople (1204–1964)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 1461)

Patriarch of Antioch
(1st cent.)|

* Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 518)
* Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (since 1058)
* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 519)
* Maronite Patriarchate (since 685)
* Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1668)
* Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1724)
* Latin Patriarchate of Antioch (1099–1964)

Patriarch of Alexandria
(1st cent.)|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451)
* Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451)
* Latin Patriarchate of Alexandria (1219–1964)
* Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 1824)

Patriarch of Jerusalem (451)|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 451)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 638)
* Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 1099)

Other|

| Patriarch of Carthage (2nd cent.–1076)|

* Latin Catholic titular episcopate (1518–1964)
* Archbishop of Tunis (since 1884)

|

Patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
(280–1552)|

* Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate of Baghdad (since 1553)
* Assyrian Church of the East Patriarchate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (since 1830)
* Ancient Church of the East Patriarchate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (since 1968)

Patriarch of Armenia (301)|

* Catholicos of All Armenians (Patriarch of Etchmiadzin) (since 301)

* Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (since 1058)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 638)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 1461)
* Patriarchate of Cilicia (since 1742)

Middle Ages
(476–1517)|

* Patriarchate of Aquileia (568–1751)
* Patriarchate of Grado (725–1451)
* Patriarchate of Bulgaria (since 919)
* Patriarchate of Georgia (since 1010)
* Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate of Peć (since 1346)
* Patriarchate of Venice (since 1451)

Early Modern era
(1517–1789) |

* Patriarchate of the West Indies (since 1524)
* Latin Patriarchate of Ethiopia (1555–1663)
* Patriarchate of the East Indies (since 1572)
* Patriarchate of Moscow (since 1589)
* Patriarchate of Lisbon (since 1716)

Late Modern era
(since 1789)|

* Patriarchate of Romania (since 1925)
* Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate of Ethiopia (since 1959)
* Patriarchate of Kyiv (1992–2018; since 2019)
* Eritrean Orthodox Patriarchate of Eritrea (since 1994)

Related|

* Apostolic Throne
* Episcopal see

* Christianity portal

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Catholic Church in Egypt

Dioceses|

* Coptic Catholic Church:
* Patriarchate of Alexandria
* Eparchy of Alexandria
* Eparchy of Abu Qirqas
* Eparchy of Assiut
* Eparchy of Giza
* Eparchy of Ismayliah
* Eparchy of Luxor
* Eparchy of Minya
* Eparchy of Sohag
* Armenian Catholic Church:
* Eparchy of Alexandria
* Chaldean Catholic Church:
* Eparchy of Cairo
* Latin Church:
* Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria of Egypt
* Maronite Church:
* Eparchy of Cairo
* Melkite Catholic Church:
* Patriarchal Dependent Territory of Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan
* Syriac Catholic Church:
* Eparchy of Cairo

Churches|

* Cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt
* Annunciation Cathedral, Cairo
* Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Cairo
* St. Catherine's Cathedral, Alexandria
* Our Lady of Heliopolis Co-Cathedral
* Basilica of St Therese of the Child Jesus, Cairo

Former dioceses|

* List of former dioceses
* Latin Patriarchate of Alexandria
* Archdiocese of Antinoe
* Apostolic Vicariate of Heliopolis of Egypt
* Apostolic Vicariate of Port-Said
* Apostolic Prefecture of the Delta of the Nile

See also|

* Egyptian saints
* Apostolic Nunciature to Egypt

* Catholicism portal
* Egypt portal

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Sui iuris particular churches of the Catholic Church

By ecclesiastical jurisdiction

Patriarchal churches|

| Ancient patriarchates|

* Latin
* Coptic
* Antiochian
* Maronite
* Melkite
* Syriac

|

Junior patriarchates|

* Chaldean
* Armenian

Major archiepiscopal churches|

* Ukrainian
* Syro-Malabar
* Syro-Malankara
* Romania

Metropolitan churches|

* Ethiopian
* Ruthenian
* Slovak
* Eritrean
* Hungarian

Other sui iuris churches|

* Albanian
* Belarusian
* Bulgarian
* Croat and Serbian
* Greek
* Italo-Albanian
* Macedonian
* Russian

* Catholicism portal
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